"Chinese Box" – an abstract strategic game for memory development for two players. It actively involves psychology and bluffing.
"Chinese Box" invites you to immerse yourself in the gaming traditions of Ancient China with its unhurriedness, measured pace, and love for games that not only kill time but also help develop some skills. By playing this duel game, you will notice that your memory, including visual memory, will improve significantly. It cannot be otherwise, as you will have to remember the positions of the cards on the table, the images of which will be hidden from you.
So, gather your patience, train your memory, choose your opponent, and boldly engage in an honest duel with them. Although, it can also be not so honest. If you decide to bluff a little, then no one, not even the Rules themselves, will forbid you to do so.
The Course of the Game
The game begins with 36 cards laid out on the table in a square of 6x6. Of these, 32 cards are face down, and 4 dragon cards are always open. Players take turns.
On their turn, each player can flip and look at three cards, placing them anywhere and placing a token on each card. Then, if the player believes they can form one of the 17 combinations, they can attempt to do so. If successful, the player takes the cards for themselves; if not – they leave them in place.
The game lasts until only a few cards remain on the table, and it is obvious that it is impossible to form a combination from them. The player who has collected the most points by the end of the game wins.
The game’s design is done in a Chinese style, and its "rules were born after encountering the components of an unknown ancient Chinese game, which is displayed in the Beijing Imperial Museum." Unfortunately, the rules of that game have been lost, but some of its wooden components have survived. It is believed that one of the ancient Chinese sages used this game to train their students' memory. This game was recreated using the surviving components and the memories of one of the sage's students.
The game board is a square made up of 36 cards. To win the game, players must collect as many combinations as possible using strategic thinking and memory. The number of victory points received depends on the complexity of the formed combination.
Game Duration: 10 to 15 minutes
Number of players: 2